BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — California Dairies, Inc. (CDI), the largest dairy farmer-owned cooperative in the state, celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, Valley Natural Beverages (VNB) on May 1st in Bakersfield.

The 200,000 square-foot greenfield facility represents a transformational investment by CDI’s member-owners, demonstrating their commitment to architecting their own destiny and meeting the growing demand for innovative fluid milk products in both the U.S. and international markets. The vertically integrated plant will begin processing an estimated 116,000 gallons of local milk daily.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by California Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, alongside California Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross, Kern County Supervisor David Couch, and local officials, community leaders, and company executives.

“We are thrilled to officially open this cutting-edge facility,” said Brad Anderson, president and chief executive officer of CDI. “This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and sustainability. The new plant will allow us to increase production capacity, expand our product offerings, improve efficiency, and create next-generation jobs for the local community.”

The state-of-the-art shelf-stable milk manufacturing facility features advanced robotics, energy-efficient technologies, and a commitment to environmental sustainability incorporating renewal energy sources and waste conservation. The plant will open with three processing lines to produce conventional extended shelf life (ESL) and ultra-high temperature (UHT) dairy beverages and products.

VNB’s strategic growth plan includes multiple phases to expand to 10-12 processing and filling production lines in the future, tripling the facility’s current capacity. When all phases are completed, the facility will be 400,000 square-feet, processing up to 600,000 gallons per day of fresh local milk.

“Value-added dairy products like ESL and UHT are popular options in today’s changing marketplace,” said Peter Ernster, senior vice president, ingredients and fluid products. “This facility allows us to meet that demand with innovative products.”

CDI has hired 90 full-time employees for the facility, providing market-competitive compensation and benefits, contributing to the creation of next-generation Industry 4.0 jobs.

About California Dairies, Inc.

California Dairies, Inc. is the largest member-owned milk marketing and processing cooperative in California, producing 40 percent of California’s milk. Co-owned by nearly 300 dairy producers who ship 17 billion pounds of milk annually, California Dairies, Inc. is a manufacturer of quality butter, fluid milk products, and milk powders.  California Dairies’ quality dairy products are available in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 50 foreign countries.